Bottle closure



7, Ev GREEN-E ETAL' BOTTLE lGLosURE f Filed Oct. 28, 1939 Patented Apr. 7, 1942 y e UNITED STATE s PirVsNrl OFFICE BOTTLE cLosURE Edgeworth Greene,

.William H. Forrest,

to Inter-Seal Corporation, e corporation of Delaware Appiieauonocmher 2s, 1939, sensing.

11 claims. (CI. ais- 22) This invention relates to improvements in bottle closures of the type utilized for preventing fraudulent refilling ofV bottles for profit.

The principal object ofthe invention resides in the provision of a structure for attachment to Upper Montclair, N. andv Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors ing parts than heretofore to thereby simplify',

shorten, lighten and cheapen rthe closure.

The invention particularly consists of a duplex valve comprising two members, viz, primary and f secondary elements, preferably loosely connected together, the former oi which is utilized to open and close a relatively large inlet openingv of the closure through which the liquid contents of the bottle is dispensed, and the other or secondary element of which is relied uponto open and close a relatively small air vent passing through the primary element and communicating with the interior of the bottle. The arrangement of these parts is such that it is 'only necessary to tilt the bottle into a pouring. position in order to eiieot either the full opening of both valve members, or the precedence of the secondary member 'controlling the airvent should there be at that time a partial vacuum within the bottle. Following the equalization of air pressure conditions both valve members may then readily move together to permit free pouring, and in this nstancewithout dependence upon any additional cooperating weighted means. Ordinarily the extent of such vacuums is vcomparatively slight and the aforesaid releasing of same is almost instantaneous, but the valve means disclosed herein is equally effective in releasing much higher vacuums, such as those occurring when the bottle is exposed to abrupt drops in atmospheric temperature during the winter season.

The initial opening of the secondary element f of the valve mechanism while there is a partial vacuum inthe bottle is made possible because of` the extreme dissimilarity of the effective areas of the two valve members with respect, to the openings they cover, and which permits the secthe bottle to hastenA the vvalve members for 'the admission New York, N.Y a

sonne.

ondary element to release more readily under the same given pressure, and because of this principle the secondary elementwill-iunction to release the aforesaid partial` vacuums thatvv otherwise would be quite strong .enough overa larger areav to hold. the primary elementeseated'and thus prevent the bottle from being poured'.v e f The aforesaid 'valve rriechanisrny is valsorde-,i n signed to function in a like manner in the pres.

ence yof abnormal vacuums: which might be creat.- ed artiiicially inthe bottle to surrepttiously interfere with. normal; pouring of the contents, a

somewhat greater time intervaljbeing then required for the equalizationoi the air pressure 'on opposite sides ofthe valve means, or such releasing may be augmntedby a slight shaking of desired separation of. the oiair needed for this purpose.v Generous clearances are provided to `allow for ample freedom'ofmovement ofthe secondary 'element in order thatfitv maybel capable ofV responding,

It will now beapparent that an. important. ob-v ject of the invention is' to-provide ya structurey in this manner.

that ,will prevent any `prolonged air locking of the bottle over an unreasonable-period ofxtime vsufoient to-condemn it for practical usage.

It will also be understood .that means arepro-Y vided herein for yclosing the air vent as well as the rmain inlet openingr of the closure when an attempt is madetovint'roduce liquid into the interior of the bottle and'regardlessrof the positieni-n which it maybe held.` -f

The invention will be more-fully understood by i reference to the drawing lforming a part of this specification, and in which: l.

Figure 1 is a vertical section` of the closurev of this Ainvention attached to a bottle top.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section closure on the line y secondary valve member in. elevation.

Figure 3 is a similar view on the line 3 3 ofv Figure 1 showing the primary valve member in elevation. V

Figure. 4 isa side valve member.

. Figure 5 'is a horizontal sectionfthrough the` 5-5 of Figure l showing the*- y closure on they line guard memberfin elevation, and,

'Figure' 6 is a' section similar toy Figure 1 but shown `inclined for pouring with`-the movable parts of the closure in another position in Whicht'he secondaryvalvev member is now yeffective to eleuvationvoiv the primary.

sisting of two members, and I8, the former` the primary e'lej; ment, and the latter as the secondary ele'mentl-a being hereinafter referred to as spherical weight member 20, and a guard member 2|. A'lhese parts are held inassembly` with the bottle neck l by spinningV the lower portion of a ferrule` I9 in and around a suitable annular recess and bead formed in the glass.

The cover member I5, guard member 2| and .valve casing I I may be made of porcelain; or they may consist of moulded plastics of suitable character for Contact with liquorscontained in the bottle, and the-guard member 2| may be secured in place by glazing the lugs'22 thereof to the inside walls of the cover member, or inthe case of plastics, bycementing the same in place. A shoulder 23 formed within the cover member defines the relative position of the guard member withv respect to proper clearances forthe egress of liquid above lugs 22, and spaces 22 shown in Figure 5 between the lugs, are for `the same purpose. The spherical weight member is preferably made of glass or agate because of its suitability for this purpose. The valve seat I2 is of a particular vconfiguration consisting in cross section, as shown in Figure `1, of a segment of a sphere the full size of which latter being indicated in broken lines, and extends upwardly from the bottom inside surface of member I I.

The purpose of the weight member 20 and the cooperating inclined inside walls of the guard member 2| has been fully described in our copending application, Ser. No. 298,900 filed' October 11, 19,39, as has also the gasket I 4 for providing an airtight joint with the bottle top, and this specification will therefore be largely novel valve means shown herein.

The primary element of the said valve means is preferably made of moulded plastic material and is light in weight. It has a diskshaped base 2.4 provided with a plurality of guiding and supporting lugs geometrically spaced apart to provide passageways 25' for the egress of liquid, as shown in Figure 3, and extending radially outwardly toward the inner surrounding walls of the valve casing |I from which they are suitably spaced to provide ample clearance for free-movement of element axially of the bottle within said casing. The lower surface of the base 24 is recessed at 26y to provide an annular surface 26 of Vfrusto-conical configuration with an angle of substantially 45 degrees, for engage- .ment with the valve seat I2, there being substantially a line contact to thus provide a tight joint when element IT is seated', which is fully resistant `to low as well as high pressures that may be used in attempts to defeat the purpose of the invention, and without the necessity of expensive `grinding or lapping of one surface to the other. The corners of the lugs 25 are rounded as shown to facilitate such axial movement of element I1, and so that the same may rock universally to a limited extent upon seat I2 without leaving it.

. AElement is provided with an upwardly projectinglmember 27 frusto-conical in shape externally, with an angle of substantially 45 degrees,

confined to the the principles used in effecting the pouring and terminating in a cylindrical tip 28 the top surface 29 of which is spherical. The inside of member 2'| is recessed at 30 directly above recess 26, and an air vent 3| leads from same through the tip 28. As the air vent 3| has a diameter of only .040 it is of extremely small area compared to that of the valve seat opening I3, the latter being 1%" in diameter.

Element |8 is also preferably made of moulded plastic material, such as is known to the trade as polystyrene, and which is appropriate for use in Icontact with distilled liquors.

Element I8 is therefore light in weight like element because of the bottle closure of V this invention do not involve heavy valves or separate Weighted means adapted to adhere to the valve means when wet, but

` instead deal primarily with the admission of air to compensate for partial vacuums within the bottle, or those `about to form above the liquid contents when a full bottle is inverted and some of its contents starts to enter the closure.

Element |8 is hollow so that it will float, and is suiciently buoyant to also effect the flotation of element I1 when the bottle is in an inverted position, or otherwise inclined so that the valve seat |2 is far enough below a horizontal plane to render the spherical weight member 20 ineffective to `move the valve elements toward said seat. Element 8 consists of two members 35 and 36 secured together in an airtight manner to form a hollow float. The member 35 is hollow, generally cylindrical, andopen at the top to snugly receive an annular flange 3'| extending downwardly from the flat disk-like cover member 36 to provide a press t joint which may be sealed if necessary by the use of a proper adhesive, so that there can be no leakage of liquid into the interior of the element. Member 35 has a hollow projection 38 extending upwardly from its base and forming an integral part thereof. The lower annular walls 38 of projection 38 correspond in shape to that of member 2'| of element I1, and taper inwardly and upwardly terminating in a spherical configuration as at 39, of slightly greater radius than that of the tip 28 of element upon which said spherical surface is adapted to seat and form a substantially airtight joint toseal the air vent 3|.

It will be noted that there is substantially a line contact between these engaging surfaces which closely coincides with the circle dened by the intersection of the top edge of the vent 3| and the surface 29 of tip 28. In this manner the effective area of the said joint approximates that of the vent to minimize the suction of the aforesaid vacuums at this particular place. It will be apparent that element I8 is supported on the tip 28 when thebottle is upright, and consequently is free to rock universally on same without uncovering the vent 3|. The upwardly extending tip 28 of element provides for ample clearances for this purpose between the inner walls 38 of projection 38 and the outer walls of member 21 of element l1, and to also prevent the formation of'adhering films of liquid therebetween tending to obstruct 'the free passage of air to vent 3| when desired, and to furthermore ensure the ready separation of elements and I8 when needed for the purpose set forth.

Cover member 3S is provided with a plurality of `circumferentially disposed lugs 4,0 extending radially outwardly therefrom. Ample clearance is allowed between the same and the adjacent walls of* the valve casing to permit element I8 to partake of the aforesaid rocking movement,

'the purpose of which will or artificial vacuum may be relieved, and

will at once float element amasar presently appear, land also to provide passageways 4I between said lugs for the egress of liquid, as shown in Figure `2. Projection 38 terminates'in a cylindrical tip 42 the top of which is. spaced from 'the cover member 36, and is provided with la throughopening 43 axially thereof for the tight reception of va pin 44 extending downwardly through the air vent 3|. The head 45 of the pin 44 .is spaced from the lower endl of vent 3| to permit relative movement of elements I'1 vand I8 so that when the bottle is inverted element I8 may vmove first to open .the vent 3 I, and then -pick up element I1 by means of theengagement therewith of the head 45 of the pin 44. In this way the weight of element I8 is added to that of element I1 to assist in unseat-ing the latter, and to maintain the same in an unseated position so as to prevent danger of possible undesirable reseating due to the natural suction of replacementyair entering the bottle during the pouring of same. The other end of pin 44 extends beyond the tip 42 of projection 38, and may be enlarged as shown at 46 by pinching, to prevent accidental withdrawal. f

It will be understoodV that the assembly of elements I1 and I8 with the pin 44 is effected prior to .the assembly of the cover member 36. If required a suitable adhesive may be applied to seal the pin within the opening 43 in an airtight manner so that no liquid may find its way into the air chamber of element I8.

The releasing action of element I8 is equally effective without the use of the pinv44, but a full vbottle when inverted will then not break open to pourautomatically but has to be tiltedr quickly, or given a shake in order to unseat element I1. Pin 44 is preferably heavily tinned to protect against any contamination of the liquor.

It is believed the parts first assume the position shown inFigure 6 as the, bottle is inclined to begin pouring. It will be seen that element I8 has tipped and moved forwardly and thatl the vent 3| is now uncovered so that any climatic element vi1 be unseated, the valve means then being free to move on to a fully open position with the cover member 36 contacting the weight memberA 20 now in the pocket formed inthe guard.

After the bottle is empty and again inverted to reopen the valve means, any entering liquid I8 into engagement with the tip 28 of'element I1. and consequently the vent 3l will be closed. As the liquid rises, as -by the use of pressure, element I8 through forces of buoyancy will carry element I1 Vinto a seated position. In any other positions of the bottle approaching a horizontal plane the weight member 2B, through forces of gravity acting on the inclined walls of'guard 2l, will push both valve elements into their respective seating positions. When the bottle isvuprigh't weight member will hold both valve elements in such position, and any attempt to unseat them, asv by agitation, will largely result in the movement of the weight member alone because of the extreme lightness of the valve elements and the forces of adhesion present between element I1 and seat I2.

It is also believed that the absence of longipension on element other, Aresults in -a greater ilex'ibility' of .the valv means with .respect to 'the'separation `of 'the 'pr-imary and secondary elements thereof in the de- :sired releasing operation. Suchfreedom ofzrnovement pivotally about. the :tip 28 is aided by the clearances between therontiguous surfaces of member 21 and the projection .328. Iny other Words, both elements are loosely Vjoined yand .loosely housed .for the promotion yof 'easy. vangling withrespect to each other, and. which characteristic appears to unquestionablyfenhance the desired releasing functioning withoutloss of protection against refilling. l

The releasing operation of element I8' is timed to bein advance'of the pouringl of the bottle. This .result is `obtained by'placing the center of gravity of element I8 beyond its center] of sus- I1 when the bottle is in a horizontal position, so that the tipping vor 'rocking movement of velement I8 to uncover ,the air vent 3I can occur before the normal pouring angle of the bottle is reached. However, on the other hand, when any attempt is made'to refill.

the bottle with element I8 in such vacuum releasing position, as by the use of pressure when. e1ement I1 may be held to its seat by adhesion, the secondary element I8 will then be moved by forces of "buoyancy, set up by the entering liquid, into a seated position before said liquid canenter the bottle through the vent '3I because.` the metacenterof element I8 is also forwardv of its point of suspension on element I1 which causes it to be more immediately responsive to such forces. f l y Furthermorawhen the bottle is inthe position illustratedin Figure 6, but now lwith both valve elements in an open pouring position in which the vent 3| will be incidentally closed because element I1 will have been rswept into itsextreme open position by the outflowing liquid, and under which circumstances the lugs 25 and '49 will be resting against the lower inside wall of the casing II, the axis of the valve means will be angularly disposed with yrespect to the axis of theclosure,

due to the lugs 4I) .being radially shorter than the lugs 25. If liquid is now introduced 4for the purpose of refilling the bottle with the flatter restored to a flatterposition but one in which :the weight member 2l) .is still ineffectiveto close 'the valve means, the `rnetacenter of the valve means in its entirety will now substantially coincide with the center of Agravity thereof, and both elements of the valve means will then 'beV 'in a state of buoyant equilibrium, withthe said axis of the valve means in substantial alignment with the axis of the closure. While vthe valve means is in such state of equilibrium it will readily rviioat toward the valve seat SI2 along a rising inclined 'plane substantially -lparallel to the axis of the closure, and with la consequent? minimizing of friction or cramping tending to v.interfere with suchy freedom of movement. f

The words lbeyond and forward are inv tended to refer to a ydirection axially of the'bottle tudinal ribs inside of the valve casing I I, such as Y those shown in our co-pending application above referred to, and the substitution thereforof .the lugs 25 and A4I) respectively on Velements I1 and i8, with .each group relatively remote tfrom the Aaway from lthe valve-seat I2, and toward the cover secondary element, said primary'element being adapted to engage said seat and close said inlet opening, and having an air vent therethrough of relatively small area with respect to that of said inlet opening, and said secondary element havl ing a part adapted to close said vent, and means for loosely coupling the secondary element to said primary element adapted when the bottle is inverted toward a pouring. position to 'provide for a limited relative movement of these ele'- ments to uncover said air vent for the purpose set forth, said relative movement being effective independently of any connection to said separate weighted means.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, in which the secondary element of the valve means is buoyant and capable of also floating the primary element.

3. In a closure of the kind described for attachment to a bottle, and having a valve casing provided with inlet and outlet openings at the opposite ends thereof, and a Valve seat, valve mechanism movable in said casing comprising a primary element and a secondary element loosely connected together, said primary element being,

adapted to engage said seat and close said inlet opening, and having an air vent therethrough of relatively small area with respect to that of said inlet opening, and said secondary element having a part adapted to close said vent, each of said elements having a plurality of annular lugs projecting radially therefrom at the opposed ends thereof so that the lugs on one element will be remote from those on the other element axially of said closure, and said lugs being adapted to guide and support said elements in cooperation with the adjacent surrounding walls of said casing, the loose connection comprising an enlarged outer end on a part of'one of the valve elements of greater diameter than an opening in the other valve element through which it is adapted to extend. Y

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which the extremity of the lugs of the secondary element defines a circle the diameter of which is 3J less than that of a circle similarly defining the lugs of the primary element, and in which the center of gravity of the secondary element, when the bottle is'moved from an upright to a horizontal position and the valve elements are seated, will be beyond its said center of suspension on the primary element, to thereby effect the tipping of the secondary element to uncover the said air vent before the normal pouring angle of the bottle is reached.

5. The combination 'set forth in claim 3, in n which there are means for effecting the flotation of the secondary element when the bottle is inverted at an angle close to the horizontal, and in which the metacenter of the secondary element including said means, is forward of its point' of suspension on the primary element for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination set forth in claim 3, in

which the metacenter and the center of gravity of the valve mechanism substantially coincide when the bottle is restored from a pouring position to one approaching the horizontal, whereby the said valve mechanism will then be in substantially buoyant equilibrium and capable of floating toward said valve seat in substantially coaxial alignment with said closure for the purpose set forth. v

7. The combination set forth in claim 3, in which said valve seat projects upwardly from the base of said casing and corresponds in shape tov .a disk having said lugs on the periphery thereof,

andhaving a tapered `projection extending upwardly therefrom terminating in a cylindrical tip .the top o-f which corresponds in shape to the segment of a sphere, the face of said disk adjacent said Valve seat being recessed with a frustoconical configuration `to provide inclined annular walls forengagement with said valve seat with substantially a line contact, and in which the secondary element of` said valve mechanism comprises a hollow cylindrical body member open at one end, yand a fiatr cover member adapted to close said open end to provide a float with an air chamber, said cover member having said lugs on the periphery thereof, and having a projection extending upwardly within said air chamber from the base of said body member having a recess in the lower face thereof adjacent said primary element of frusto-conical configuration to provide annular inclined walls, and which merge into a spherical top surface for engagement of the latter with the top surface of the cylindrical Vtip of said tapered projection of the primary element. f

8. The combination set forth in claim 3, in which the said valve seat'projects upwardly from the base of said casing and corresponds in shape to the segment of a sphere, and in which the primary element of the valve mechanism consists of a disk having said lugs on the periphery thereof, and having a tapered projection extending upwardly therefrom terminating in a cylindrical tip the top surface of which corresponds in shape to the segment of a sphere for engagement with a surface on said secondary element to close said air vent, the face of said disk adjacent said valve seat being recessed and of a frusto-conical configuration to provide inclined annular walls for engagement with said valve seat with substantially aline contact.

9. The combination set forth-in claim 3, in which the secondary element of the valve mechanism comprises a' hollow cylindrical body memyration to provide `annular inclined walls and which merge into a spherical top surface for engagement of the latter with a surface on said primary element to effect the closing of said air vent.

f 10.y The structure set forth in claim 1, in which nthe means` provided for loosely coupling said elements includes a part'thereof operative to efyfect anV engagement `of said elements following said relative movement, `and so that the weight of the secondary element will supplement that of the primary element to thereby assist in unseating the latter to pour the bottle.

l1. In a closure of the kind described for attachment to a bottle, and having a valve compartment provided with inlet and outlet openings atopposite ends thereof respectively, and a valve seat surrounding the inlet opening, valve means movable in said compartment; comprising a primary element, and a secondary element normally supported on the primary element, a projection on one element, and the other element having a recess for the reception therein of said projection, the primary element being adapted to engage said Valve seat and close said inlet opening, and having an air-vent opening therethrough leading from said compartment to said inlet opening, and the secondary element being adapted to close said air-vent opening, and said recess and. projection having engageable seating surfaces effective for sealing said air-vent opening, and of a configuration that the secondary element is free to gyrate on the primary element about the geometric axis of the closure Without uncovering said air-vent opening, and the said valve seat and the face of the primary element being also of a configuration that the primary element is free to gyrate upon said Valve seat in a similar manner without uncovering said inlet opening, and coupling means arranged to loosely connect the valve elements so that they can separate to a predetermined extent comprising an 10 element passing through said air-vent opening.

EDGEWORTH GREENE. WILLIAM H. FORREST. 

